National Payments Corporation of India (NPCI) Non-Executive Chairman and Independent Director Ajay Kumar Choudhary said India’s financial infrastructure is entering a new phase driven by artificial intelligence, programmable transactions and stronger digital trust.
Delivering the keynote address at the 7th Global FinTech Fest (GFF) 2026, Choudhary said the next generation of financial infrastructure must be capable of understanding intent, coordinating value, withstanding emerging threats and ensuring inclusion.
Marking 10 years of UPI, he said the platform processed more than 24.5 billion transactions worth Rs 29.8 lakh crore in August 2026 through 752 participating banks. He credited Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s efforts in promoting UPI globally and said the system had evolved into infrastructure embedded in everyday life.
Choudhary outlined three key shifts: from instructions to intent through bounded and accountable AI agents; from moving money to coordinating value through programmable systems; and from present security to future resilience, particularly against quantum computing threats.
He also highlighted NPCI’s open-source enterprise blockchain platform, Drunix, for tokenisation and digital asset ecosystems, while stressing interoperability and common standards.
In Agartala, the growing digital payments ecosystem could further support small businesses and consumers by expanding access to faster, interoperable and programmable financial services across Tripura’s commercial centres.
Choudhary cautioned that technological risks must be assessed across the entire financial chain, stressing sovereignty, portability, preparedness and institutional capability as critical to future financial resilience.
